San Diego County, CA Fence Regulations: Material Restrictions (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Zoning Ordinance § 6704.a
- Material rule
- Any material commonly used for fencing
- Backstop
- Must meet county sturdiness standards
- Enforcement
- Misdemeanor or infraction, § 7703
- Area covered
- Unincorporated county only
Summary
In unincorporated San Diego County, fences and walls can be built from any material commonly used for fencing, or another material the county's Planning Department accepts, as long as it meets sturdiness standards set elsewhere in county code.
Materials for Fences and Walls. Fences and walls may be of any material commonly used in the construction of fences and walls, or otherwise acceptable by the Department, except as hereinafter specified. Such fence or wall shall meet any criteria for sturdiness and construction as established in other County regulations.
b. Opaqueness or Transparency of Fences. The degree of opaqueness or transparency of fences and walls may be determined by the property owner, in accordance with the owner’s desire for visual privacy, except as hereinafter specified. Notwithstanding this provision, such fence or wall shall meet the requirements of any other County regulation concerning the opaqueness or transparency of a fence or wall.
c. Hedges. A hedge or other dense landscaping may satisfy a requirement for a view-obscuring fence. In that case, the hedge or other landscaping shall be planted to ensure 100 percent screening within two years of installation. Such hedge or other dense landscaping shall be maintained in accordance with the provisions of San Diego County Code sections 86.701 et seq. and shall be replaced with another hedge, other dense landscaping or an appropriate fence or wall when it ceases to serve the purpose of obscuring views. However, no such hedge shall be grown or maintained at a height greater than that permitted by these regulations for a fence or wall. (Amended by Ord. No. 10031 (N.S.) adopted 1-13-10) 6706 REQUIRED FENCES AND WALLS.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-141: Administrative: Current through Ord. No. 11007 (N.S.), effective 7-10-26 | Regulatory: Current through Ord. No. 11008 (N.S.), effective 7-24-26).
Full Breakdown
Section 6704.a of the county's Fencing and Screening Regulations sets the material standard for unincorporated San Diego County: fences and walls may be built of any material commonly used for fencing, or another material the Department of Planning and Development Services accepts, except where a more specific rule applies. Whatever material is used, the fence or wall must still meet the sturdiness and construction criteria set elsewhere in county regulations. The county does not restrict fence type or appearance by material category here, it defers to Department judgment on acceptability and to other sections for structural adequacy. This rule covers unincorporated county land only; the City of San Diego and the county's other incorporated cities set their own fence standards.
Violations & Fines
Erecting or maintaining a fence that fails to meet county construction standards violates Section 7703: a misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months in jail or a $1,000 fine, or chargeable as an infraction with fines of $100 to $500 per repeat violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use any material to build a fence in unincorporated San Diego County?
Does this rule apply inside the City of San Diego?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Diego County
California rules heatmap·Compare San Diego County to another location·View the California fence regulations overview
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